The proposed (Aptta) has issued nine new routes for keeping a constant check on the transportation of vehicles carrying Afghan transit cargo. Sources told Business Recorder on Friday that a new Article-4, titled "Designation of Transit Transport Routes" has been inserted in the Aptta for specifying clear cut transit routes for transportation of Afghan cargo, regulating transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The routes for passage of traffic in transit by road have been specified to ensure that the transit traffic follows the specified routes. It has been observed that sometimes Afghan transit comes from Karachi to Lahore for onward transportation through land route to Afghanistan. This Afghan cargo should have been going through Indus Highway, Sukkur or Mianwali route for onward transportation to Afghanistan. However, it is not clear that why transit consignments move from Karachi to Lahore.
To deal with such issues, the new agreement has clearly specified nine routes to ensure movement of bonded carrier on specific roads. Once the new routes are being notified, the monitoring of Afghan transit cargo would be very easy. The customs check posts could be set-up on these routes for monitoring of transit cargo.
The implementation of tracking system would enable the department to jam the vehicle, which change the designated route or shows abnormal activities during transshipment process. If a vehicle suddenly stops at a certain place for 4-5 hours, its monitoring could be done through tracking devices. Therefore, specified routes for movement of Afghan transit consignments are necessary under the new agreement.
THE FOLLOWING ROUTS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED: Karachi Hyderabad Sukkur - Multan Faisalabad Pindi Bhattian - Rawalpindi Peshawar - Jamrud Terminal - Torkhum. Karachi Hyderabad - Ratodero D G Khan D I Khan Kohat Peshawar Jamrud Terminal Torkhum.
Karachi Bela Khuzdar - Kalat Quetta Chaman Terminal Spin Bolduk. Gwadar Pansi Ormara Liari Khuzdar-Kalat Quetta Chaman Terminal Spin Bolduk. Gwadar Turbat Hoshab Panjgur Naag Besma Sorab Kalat Quetta Chaman Terminal Spin Bolduk. Gwadar Pansi Ormara Liari - Karachi Ratodero D.I. Khan Kohat Peshawar Jamrud Terminal - Torkhum. Gwadar Turbat - Hoshab - Panjgur Naag Besma - Khuzdar Rotodero D.I. Khan Kohat Peshawar Jamrud Terminal Torkhum. Wagha Lahore Rawalpindi Peshawar (by motorways) - Jamrud Terminal Torkhum (for Afghanistan to Indian transit only).
Khunjrab Sost Chilas Mansehra Hasanabdal Peshawar Jamrud Terminal - Torkhum. The proposed Aptta has also included a new Article 10 titled "Remedy for delay in clearance of transit cargo" to ensure that clearance of Afghan transit cargo is not unduly delayed and can be auctioned after intimation to the Afghan embassy.
THE NEWLY INSERTED TEXT IS AS UNDER: "Remedy for delay in clearance of transit cargo: In case cargo destined for Afghanistan is landed at any port in Pakistan and not cleared and transported to Afghanistan within 30 days, the concerned Port Authority will intimate details of the consignment to the embassy of Afghanistan under intimation to Pakistan Customs and issue another reminder after 60 days of arrival of cargo.
If, in spite of these intimations, the cargo is not cleared within 90 days of its arrival then Pakistan Customs will be at liberty to auction the cargo under intimation to embassy of Afghanistan. The outstanding charges such as demurrage for the period of storage of the cargo in the port will be reimbursed to the concerned parties out of the proceeds of the auction and the balance, if any, will be deposited with the embassy of Afghanistan.
IN ANNEX-I ARTICLE 11 TITLED: "Vehicle to vehicle transfer of goods" has been inserted to ensure that such transfer takes place only at the designated Customs bonded terminals. Article 11, Vehicle to vehicle transfer of goods: Vehicle to vehicle transfer of goods or containers shall not be allowed charging transit through Pakistan except at Jamrud Azakhel, Chaman and Wagha terminals."
Comments
Comments are closed.